Not sure how much effect the following will have but I think it worthy of note.
Anecdotal information I have received is that Australians based in London and the USA are having a hard time of it and are returning home.
Are they counted in the immigration figures?
Also, NZ expats in London and USA are also returning but not to NZ, they are coming to Aus because they think they have more opportunity here.
I remember someone posted the figures a few weeks ago about how many NZ young were coming to Aus (from NZ) in the hope of bettering their lives. I am sure those figures would be included in the immigration figures.
Someone mentioned OS students in Aus a few days ago and it struck me as strange that they were assuming a drop in numbers.
My own information from discussions with Monash Uni is that they are expecting an increase in foreign enrollments.
When the children of Asian parents are ready for tertiary study they must do it, other things give way but education is not put on hold.
The only question is where to study for a tertiary qualification, not whether to do so or not.
In good times Australia is actually lower down the list. USA is the most desireable location for study, with England being a second choice. Australia is cheaper than those locations so they tend to get the not-as-wealthy families sending their kids here.
Now with global economic situation and the US dollar being so strong and Aus dollar so low, the price gap has widened considerably.
As a result, Monash at least, is seeing an increased demand for foreign student enrollments.
Whichever way you slice it, the events following this crash are shaping up to be the same as events post the 1987 and 1999 crashes.
